The Good, the Bad and the Weird from the 2014 NY Auto Show

Press days for the 2014 New York International Auto Show are in the books, and this year was…strange at best. The whole place felt like a morgue, despite some significant cars in attendance. Here is our sorta-kinda wrap-up of the show, with the good, the bad, and the questionable.
Good: McLaren 650SPHOTOS: See More of the 2015 McLaren 650S Spider
It’s bad when the best car at the show was not even physically at the show, itself. The 650S is the effective replacement for the MP4-12C. It has more power (641 hp), is lighter, and apparently has improved driving dynamics. It also has one of the most compelling faces we’ve seen in the supercar world.
Meh: Hyundai SonataPHOTOS: See More of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata
Great gobs of bland. The Sonata is an important car for the brand, so a lackluster update is actually a good thing for a family sedan. It’s not bad, it's just hard to get excited about it.
Good: Challenger Interior UpdatePHOTOS: See More of the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/TOne of the most glaring shortcomings of the Dodge Challenger was its dated cabin design. Dodge offered a very modest exterior redesign in New York, but a significant overhaul of the dash, steering wheel, and instrument panel. This update needed to happen.Meh: Toyota CamryPHOTOS: See More of the 2015 Toyota Camry
See “Hyundai Sonata.” This car looks like a Lexus ES, which is odd, because Lexus spent millions developing a dedicated platform so that the ES would be less like the Camry.
Good: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG CoupePHOTOS: See More of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe
This car is, hands-down, the most beautiful car that will be sold in a dealership in the next year. The long sloping hood gives way to an elegant greenhouse, and an aft that is reminiscent of a Chris Craft boat. Pair that to a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 making 577 horsepower and you have a piece of German perfection.
What the…? BMW X4
Several years ago, BMW answered the question that no one asked with the X6 “sports activity coupe,” and they haven’t stopped answering that question. The latest manifestation is the X4, an even smaller sport activity coupe, which has even less cargo room. Freaking great.
Good: Alfa Romeo 4CPHOTOS: See More of the 2013 Alfa Romeo 4C
It’s easy to make a mid-engined exotic a compelling car when you cram 600 horses below the hood, but what about 240 horsepower? That is what makes the 4C so fascinating– it will be one of the most sought-after cars by journalists this year, and only has a turbo inline-4 behind the driver.
Bad: Off-Site Events During Show Hours
Ford had two events going on during the show. One was on top of the Empire State Building. The other was in Flushing Meadows. Freaking Queens. It is both arrogant and ignorant to host an off-site event at a location far from the auto show.
For one, we journalists are trying to cover all brands. Attending this event would take us away from the show floor for several hours, if not an afternoon– just to cover your brand. It also diminishes the relevance of the show floor. This has to stop.
PHOTOS: See More of the 2015 Ford Mustang